Jets hang on, complete sweep of Jr. Blues

The Springfield Jr. Blues’ comeback fell short Saturday night as they dropped a 3-2 North American Hockey League decision to the Janesville Jets at the Nelson Center.

It gave the Jets, in second place in the NAHL Midwest Division, a sweep of the two-game series as they opened a six-point lead over third-place Springfield.

The Jr. Blues, with 38 points, were four ahead of the fourth-place Minnesota Magicians pending the outcoming of Minnesota’s game against Aberdeen Saturday night.

After Simon Sagissor gave Janesville a 1-0 lead just 18 seconds into the game on Saturday, the Jr. Blues tied it on a goal by Spencer DenBeste. It was assisted by Nikita Kozyrev and Ethan Stewart.

But Janesville opened a 3-1 lead on a power-play goal by Brendan MacLaren midway through the first period and a goal by Jordan Steinmetz just one minute into the second period.

Brandon Puricelli, playing in his second game for the Jr. Blues, cut it to 3-2 on a goal assisted by Kozyrev and Bradley Marek at 12:57 into the third period. But Springfield, despite outshooting Janesville 19-11 in the third period, couldn’t tie it up.

The Jr. Blues outshot the Jets 44-41 for the game.

The Jets and Jr. Blues continue their two-week series as they meet again next Friday and Saturday in Janesville, Wisconsin.

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